John G./Tim and Eladio hooked 40 bones and landed 25. This is the whole groups (FS) first time in Salt Water. They did´nt hardly see any fish then around 9:30 the sun came out and the East wind laid down. They found a huge cloud of bones and both hopped out. They had at least 5 doubles and b4 they new it it was 1:30 and they had had nonstop action.

Brad and Manuel landed a Permit and bones and also had shots at Snook and jumped a couple. This is Brads first time in Salt Water. He was going to try to complete the Slam with a Tarpon off the pier last night. Will let you know if he did when I see him.

Adios

26 Permit total for the week

6 1st Permit on the fly

6 Grand Slams

5 Super Slams

Double Grand Slam same boat. Two permit on at same time. 1st permit for John...Jim landed other. Jim jumped 9 tarpon b4 he landed one for his slam then John got up and landed his tarpon.
Jeff says: (10:06:25 AM)
Sweet
Tom says: (10:06:27 AM)
Fishing with ----->Gaspar<-------
Jeff says: (10:06:43 AM)
double hook up on permit
Tom says: (10:06:49 AM)
Yes
Jeff says: (10:06:54 AM)
unbelieveable
Jeff says: (10:06:58 AM)
awesome
Tom says: (10:07:23 AM)
First time ever a double grand slam same boat same day, I believe.

Geoff and Tara landed the only Permit for the week. The fly used was the Raghead Crab pattern. Once again Tara had his client waist to chest deep in the water once he spotted the Permit. One cast later, Geoff was hooked up.

John, Jeff and Eladio went to the Tarpon Lagoon on Friday. John put a Cockroach pattern in front of his first Tarpon and hooked up. The 1st Tarpon for John was reported to be @ 30 lbs.

Dave and Tara landed the only Snook for the week. Fly used was not reported.

Agustin with Stefan and Alex H. landed 2 Permit in the same day. For the week they had 2 permit, 3 tarpon and 2 snook.

David with had 3 permit for the week. 1 with John S. 1 with Phil C. and 1 with Ray G.

Gaspar had 1 permit for the week that was landed by John S.

Eladio put Gerhard on his 1st Permit on the fly.

Pedro put Pete M. on his 1st permit on the fly.

Jose helped Bill R. add 1 more permit to his total.

Luis put Ted Johnston on his permit on the first day which brings Teds´total in Ascencion Bay to 77 permit.

Andres,Pato, Manuel and Tara put there clients on plenty of bonefish during the week.

The weather was very nice for four of the 6 days of fishing. Thursday and Friday were a little windy but with plenty of sunlight.

Jose Valero (Garnacha) and Pato helped their clients Jerry and Andrea to land 1st permits on the fly. Jerrys´was here in Ascencion Bay and Andreas´was on the last day of a 2 week stay and in Espiritu Santo Bay.

Agustin and Eladio both helped their clients add to the list of Permit on the fly landed. Eladio with Gerhard and Agustin with Stefan.

Agustin put his clients, Aex and Stefan on Snook during the week and they boated one in the 10 lb. range. He also took them to the T-Lagoon where Alex boated a very nice Tarpon (60 to 80lb range). Do not know if the flys used were brought by the brothers or some of Agustins´ flys. They were “Tight Lipped” about divulging.

Pedro also put his clients on some tarpon and 1 in the 12 lb. range was brought to the boat.

All the rest of the boats(Jose,David,Tara,Manuel) got into some fine bonefishing for the week. Gaspar ands his clients got into a school of some 6#,7# and up.

The Tarpon fishing was a little slow but there were a few jumped. Also the Snook fishing was slow due to low tides.Viv did manage to land his first and second Snook while fishing with David.

The week of May 3rd – 10th. Ken M. landed his first Permit on fly while fishing with Cucchi and Tara. Viv landed 2 permit for the week and they were one day apart and both were Grand Slam days.

The week of May 10 – 17 we had a laid back crowd. They had a lot of good Bonefishing and some very nice lunches prepared by Esteban. They came back for lunch 4 out of the 6 days.

Article Date: October 2007

Casa Blanca fishing lodge is one of the great success stories in international fishing. That's true not only because, year after year, it produces good fishing for a large number of clients, but also because it has helped roll back the damage done to the Ascension Bay fishery on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. Owner Bobbie Settles does not make a big deal of it, but he has fought long and hard to end illegal netting in the bay, most recently even in the more remote western reaches of this body of water.

The end result of all this effort is a fishery that seems to be actually improving. It is also expanding, according to subscriber Gant Allen. He had this to say in a recent note:

I'm glad to hear that Casa Blanca came through the recent hurricane undamaged. Your report on that last month gave me a reason to call Bobby Settles and discuss the upcoming season with him. Your report also reminded me that my trip to Casa Blanca last season was the best I have had there. The fishing was unsurpassed. A high point was the chance to go to the very back of Ascension Bay to try my hand at snook. What results! I caught 18 my first day. Later in the week, I was able to catch two more in the 35- to 40-pound range. What an experience! Having a 35-pound snook take your fly is absolutely awesome. It takes your breath away. Also, my good friend Tom Williamson caught a 150-pound tarpon in the same area. The fishing was the most unbelievable ever.

After talking with Bobby Settles at Casa Blanca, my buddy Will Meyers and I got a wild idea to explore Ascension Bay along Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula by kayak. Casa Blanca and nearby Playa Blanca form the gateway to an immense and pristine estuary that makes up part of the Sian Ka'an biosphere reserve. These two lodges sit at the edge of numerous mangrove lakes and countless bays and flats, which are perfect for kayaking. As far as we were concerned, with bonefish, permit, tarpon and snook nearby, we couldn't get there soon enough.

Although we got our share of odd looks, we dragged our kayaks overland into several remote lagoons, looking for bigger tarpon and snook, and paddled over quite a few flats covered in bonefish. Some of the backcountry waters were clear with a tannic stain that allowed us to sight-cast; others were murky and windblown, requiring persistent blind-casting into the mangroves. Fishing bonefish flats turned out to be easier than we'd expected — we could literally sneak right up to schools of fish.

We covered miles of incredible water and scrapped with just about every species of fish available here except permit. We knew they'd prove tougher to spot than bonefish, but we both had a couple of shots during the week at tailers working the edge of the flats. Unfortunately, they reacted to our bonefish flies like permit typically do — they snubbed us.

Anglers interested in this trip should carefully consider their kayaking and fishing experience level. Besides knowing the basic techniques of fly-fishing from a kayak and managing the required gear, it's essential that you be able to rig your tackle and to spot fish on your own. Casa Blanca and Playa Blanca will provide the kayaks, paddles, guides and a shuttle panga, but any anglers booking this trip should also bring the following: bungee cords (1 and 2 feet long), a paddle leash and a kayak leash with a belt clip for wading, a GPS and a compass, binoculars, a flashlight, two-way radios, an emergency/first-aid kit with flares, PFD/seat cushion, an extra two-piece paddle, assorted dry bags, a small vinyl drift anchor and kickboat flippers. We found out the hard way that this last item would be invaluable to holding our positions in deeper water. To help manage your rods while underway, try the small foam blocks used to strap a canoe to the top of your car (available at most paddle shops). Lash them to the kayak's front deck with bungees and cut a narrow slit in the foam to drop your rod tip in, then place your reel between your legs when paddling.

I recommend 6- to 10-weights rigged with floating lines and a selection of flies appropriate for bonefish, snook, tarpon and even permit. You might also want to bring a little wire in case you decide to chase the numerous small 'cudas you'll encounter.